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Filled with the Spirit
Having attended church regularly since I was six weeks old, I’ve heard many sermons and Sunday School lessons that revolved around the cast of characters in the Pentateuch — the first five books of the Old Testament. Through the years I became familiar with the stories of Aaron, Abraham, Adam, Esau, Eve, Jacob, Joseph, Joshua, Leah, Miriam, Moses, Noah, Rachel, Rebekah, Sarah and even Zipporah.
The scriptures expose their flaws and obstinance alongside their faith and obedience. Each narrative chronicles God’s creative and redemptive work. Each is infused with evidence of His love, faithfulness and goodness. Yet, the storylines seem episodic — as if God is not especially involved in their daily lives. After the dramatic rescue of the Israelites from Egyptian captivity, the narrative shifts.
While the people of God made their way through the wilderness, they learned firsthand what it meant to rely on God’s daily provision. Water came from a rock, manna rained down from above, a cloud shaded them from the harsh sun by day and a fire warmed them at night. His presence, which was both the cloud and the fire, also was revealed as a cloud of glory surrounding Moses. When he emerged from the glory cloud on Mt. Sinai, Moses had commandments inscribed on tablets, new laws, and an architectural plan for the Tabernacle. Next comes the part of the story I never heard in a sermon or lesson.
In Exodus 31 — for the first time ever in scripture — God filled someone with the Holy Spirit. Who was this person? Not a priest, prophet, leader or Levite. He was Bezalel, an artist.
God was ready to dwell among His people in a structure that was worthy of His presence. He already had given the blueprint to Moses. The Lord then called Bezalel by name, filled him with the Spirit and gave him the ability, intelligence, knowledge and craftsmanship necessary to work in gold, silver, bronze, stone, wood and fabric. The Lord also provided Bezalel with Oholiab, a business partner who was gifted with similar abilities, along with other craftspeople and all the raw materials necessary to complete the task — in the middle of the wilderness! Together, they created a holy place of beauty fit for the Eternal One.
As a creative, I delight in knowing that the first person filled by the Spirit was an artist! More than that, though, I am comforted in knowing that when God calls us to a task, He also equips us for that task — even when we feel like we’re in the wilderness.
Today, we celebrate the life of Hildegard of Bingen, a writer, composer, philosopher, Christian mystic and Benedictine abbess. One of only four women Doctors of the Church (with Teresa of Avila, Catherine of Siena and Therese of Lisieux), she is known as the patron saint of creatives — especially musicians and writers.
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